NRF1-regulated CircNSUN2 promotes lymphoma progression through activating Wnt signaling pathway via stabilizing HMGA1.

Lymphoma is the malignant tumor in the lymphatic system. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are non-coding RNAs with closed structure, which have been reported to perform critical functions in various tumor progressions. However, the role of circNSUN2 in lymphoma has not been well explored. Quantitative reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay was performed to test the expression of circNSUN2 in malignant lymphoma tissues and normal lymph tissues, as well as in human peripheral blood lymphocyte cell line and malignant lymphoma cell lines. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and Transwell assays were used to evaluate the function of circNSUN2 on lymphoma cell proliferation, migration and invasion. DNA pull-down assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and luciferase reporter assay were employed to test the interaction between circNSUN2 and NRF1. TOP/FOP flash reporter assay was performed to detect influence of circNSUN2 on Wnt pathway. Luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assay were performed to explore interaction between HMGA1 and circNSUN2 through Wnt pathway. CircNSUN2 expression was abnormally high in malignant lymphoma tissues and cell lines. CircNSUN2 inhibition could reduce proliferation and invasion of lymphoma. Bioinformatic analysis, DNA pull-down, ChIP and luciferase reporter experiments confirmed that circNSUN2 could be modulated by transcription factor NRF1. Through RT-qPCR, western blot and luciferase reporter assays, circNSUN2 was proved to influence Wnt pathway by modulating HMGA1. CircNSUN2 regulated by transcription factor NRF1 could promote lymphoma progression through activating Wnt pathway via stabilizing HMGA1.[Figure: see text].

Improvement of hyperandrogenism, oligo-ovulation, and ovarian morphology in a patient with polycystic ovary syndrome: possible role of ovarian wedge resection.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrinological abnormality which typically presents as hormones disorder and/or infertility. It has received more and more attention in recent years though its pathogenesis is still unclear. Ovarian mucinous adenoma is a rarely pathological type which generates from epithelial cell of ovary. Here we present a patient with PCOS and ovarian mucinous tumor (occasionally discovered by cesarean section) receiving a complete relief after benign ovarian tumor excision. In this case, tumor excision played as a partial resection of ovary which might result in the normalized concentration level of hormones and morphology of ovary. This report suggests that therapeutic strategies for PCOS should be considered more carefully and individually.

Investigation on Computed Tomography Features of Primary Thymic Atypical Carcinoid Tumors.

OBJECTIVES: The thymic atypical carcinoid tumors (aTCs) are rare. The computed tomography (CT) features of aTC were poorly studied, and researches under this topic with large samples are in a small quantity in the literature. Our aim was to investigate the CT features of aTC. METHODS: Eleven cases of aTC (7 men and 4 women; mean age, 56 ± 16 years) proved by pathology were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients underwent contrast-enhanced CT scans with dual phase (25-30 and 60-70 seconds) after contrast agent injection. Two experienced radiologists analyzed the imaging findings. The observing indexes of CT features were based on standard CT reporting terms of mediastinal masses suspicious for thymic malignancy, particularly on the findings of marginal cystic/necrotic component (MCC) sign and hypervascular sign in tumors. RESULTS: All the tumors were located in the anterior and/or middle mediastinum and heterogeneous parenchyma, with moderate to marked enhancement, and had multiple cystic/necrotic components. The maximum diameter of lesions ranged from 5 to 24 cm. Among the 11 patients involved in this study, 6 patients had distant metastases, all of which were identified as skeletal metastases; 9 cases showed MCC sign only at the margin (3 cases) or at both marginal and central margins (6 cases), and 5 cases showed hypervascular sign. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that the MCC and hypervascular signs should be included as characterization in addition to the standard features for the diagnosis of aTC.